As One Journey Ends, Another Starts...

Wow...it sure has been a long voyage for me, and it's no big surprise that I always have to make everything harder than it should be--it's just the Mary Tran way! I started out as a girl who came in gung-ho about teaching, totally in love with the idea of working with students. I hit a few bumps that were discouraging and took away my teacher groove a bit, but hey the groove is back. It has taken me three semesters to come full circle and still be gung-ho about teaching. Am I kooky or crazy? Nope... crazy is the norm for me. Today was the last day of my 8 week placement. I'm excited to be done, but I'm sad to leave such an amazing group of students. I have to say you are never too young to be a teacher and definitely never too old to be a student. My students have taught me to love, to believe in what I teach and whom I teach, and to be myself. As they were coming up to me to tell me one thing they will remember or miss, I had more reasons to why I love teaching. When I hear the students tell me their favorite part was reading, I smiled and was overjoyed because this is what I wanted to hear. They told me that they'll miss all the games and the fact that I turned almost everything into something fun. This is what I strive to do and I will always carry that with me into every class I teach. I've learned that students are capable of so much more than we think that they can handle; this group has taught me that. And I can say just because they're fun size doesn't mean they can't be taken serious. =) Most of all...my students have helped me discover how to truly be "Miss Tran."

Final Countdown...

I have come so far since the beginning of this placement. I went into teaching because I was in it for the long run to make a difference, to help students become better people and life-long learners, and to grow. Who would have thought, 32 third graders would have made a difference in my life, in who I have become, and grown into. I'm a changed person (for the better) because of what these students bring into my life. They're simply inspirational and make me want to do the best I can so they can succeed because they deserve that. The student teaching is coming to a close and I'm not ready to leave these students. =( Do I really have to start a new chapter in my life?

Infinite...

There are sooo many reasons why I love to do what I do and can't see myself do anything else in the future, BUT there is one really crucial reason. At the end of the day, when I can finally take a deep breath and slow down my mind completely, I realize I teach one small thing but my students take off and run with it. It surprises me and is inspiring to see how one small thing can expand. Surprises is why I teach.